Scarlet Spider

• Title: Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider #18
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Peter David
• Artist: André Lima Araújo

The arrival of Mysteria, the daughter to classic Spidey-villain Mysterio, who has now been hired by the same casino he is working for prickles Ben Reilly‘s Spidey-Sense to the level that he decides it is time to call in some back-up. Enter Kaine and Dusk. Unfortunately, neither prove to be all that helpful with the illusionist actually makes the casino disappear (by temporarily displacing it in another dimension).

I’m still a bit confused by the inclusion of Mysteria and Mysterio (the retired villain who Reilly threatened just a few issues back). Just what exactly are the father/daughter team up to? And how does temporarily loosing a hotel and casino fit into their plans? Hopefully the fallout of their “trick” will lead to some answers.

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• Title: Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider #12
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Peter David
• Artist: Will Sliney

Already confused about what direction to take now that the Slingers have kidnapped Cassandra Mercury as leverage to force the Scarlet Spider to turn himself in for the brutal attack on Thorne, the sudden return of Kaine (who has his own agenda in freeing the kidnapped club owner) only further complicates the situation. In the end the two Scarlet Spiders agree to work together.

The murky reality of Ben Reilly continues here as he’s talked into saving Cassandra from would-be-heroes who, let’s face it, are no more heroic than either of our web-slingers. This leads to some heavy action in the later-half of the comic between the Scarlet Spiders and the group along with some serious questions about just who or what some of the Slingers are and what they are truly after.

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• Title: Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider #9
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Peter David
• Artist: Will Sliney

Following the events of last month’s issue, the Scarlet Spider makes a pair of new friends (well… if you are grading on a curve) and works with Ricochet to track down the other hero’s former (and now resurrected) partner Hornet. Knowing there’s far more to the story that Ricochet is willing to divulge, and the fact that it’s been some time since he’s played well with others, Scarlet Spider’s team-up doesn’t last that long (although the consequences do involve our hero getting in over his head and Richochet racing through a casino without any pants).

There’s plenty of action in Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider #9 featuring Reilly take on Hornet. As to just what the former hero’s story is, or what that mystical totem is, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

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• Title: Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider #8
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Peter David
• Artist: Will Sliney

After his brief encounter with Death and given yet another chance to redeem himself, Ben Reilly begins his road back to being a hero. This means attempting to make good on his promise to save young Abigail from her incurable illness and deal with the sudden appearance of the Hornet (yet another character who has made a recent return from the grave – something Ben knows quite a bit about) who creates havoc on the strip in order to draw out the Scarlet Spider.

There’s plenty of action here with the fight between Scarlet Spider and the Hornet, and the unexpected appearance of another hero. As for Kaine, it looks like his role in the comic is done (at least for now) as he doesn’t take the news of Ben’s second chance all that well.

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